Current-regulator for electric lamps



.(No Model.)

G. H. BALSLEY, Jr., 8: E. M. PORTER.

CURRENT REGULATOR FOR BLBGTRIG LAMPS.

No. 451,798. Patented May 5,1891.

/NVENTOH ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES CHARLES H. BALSLEY, JR,

PATENT OFFICE.

AND EDWIN M. PORTER, OF CONNELLSVILLE,

PENNSYLVANIA.

CURRENT-REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC L'AMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,798, dated May 5,1891.

Application filed January 17, 1891. Serial No. 378,074:- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. BALS- LEY, Jr., and EDWIN M. PORTER,both of Connellsville, in the county of Fayette and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Current-Regulator forElectric Lamps, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in whichFigure 1 is a longitudinal section of an electric lamp provided with ourimproved current-regulator. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the regulator. Fig.3 is a horizontal section taken on line 0: a; in Fig. 1, looking towardthe top of the lamp-socket. Fig. L is a sectional plan View taken online 00 00 in Fig. 1, looking toward the lamp. Fig. 5 is a horizontalsection taken on line t] y in Fig. 1, looking upward; and Fig. 6 is adiagram of the lamp, showing the connections of the regulator.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

The object of our invention is to provide for incandescent electriclamps a currentregulator, by means of which the light may be increasedor diminished at will.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofparts, as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

The lamp A is of the description commonly used in incandescent lighting,and is provided with wire terminals Ct b, extending from the basethereof. The lamp-socket B is elongated and adapted to receive and holdthe base of the lamp according to any of the wellknown methods.

In the socket B are placed disks c d of insulating material, and to thesaid disks are secured metallic blocks 6, preferably of copper, theblocks of the upper disk 0 alternating in position with those of thelower disk d, and each block except the last of the series is providedwith two cavities for receiving the ends of the graphite rods 0. Thefirst graphite rod of the series is connected by the first metallicblock e and a metallic rod D with the first of the upper metallic blockse, which is connected electrically with the hind ing-post in the uppersurface of the disk 0. In the center of the disk d is journaled aspindle g, to which above the disk is attached an arm h, carrying at itsfree end a contactspring t, which is capable of forming an electricalconnection with the metallic blocks 6 of the disk (Z. The spindle gbelow the disk d is provided with a miter-wheel j, which is engaged by amiter-wheel k on the key-spindle Z, the said key-spindle being providedat its outer end outside of the socket B with a thumb-piece m.

The wire CL of the lamp A is connected electrically with the spindle g,and the wire Z) of the lamp A is connected electrically with abindingpost 02, attached to the disk 0. By turning the spindle Z,thereby rotating the spindle g,.the arm h is brought into contact withthe first metallic block 6 of the lower series, thereby establishing anelectrical connection which enables the full current to flow from thewires 0 13 through the lamp. By further turning the spindle Z in thesame direction the arm h is brought into electrical contact with themetallic blocks e of the lower 7 5 series in succession, therebyintroducing more or less resistance into the circuit of the lamp, thusdiminishing its illuminating power to any desired extent.

By means of our improvement the lamp may be turned up or down in thesame manner as a gas-light.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent In a current-regulator for electric lamps, thecombination of the socket B, the insulating-disks c d, placed in thesocket, the metallic blocks 6, attached to the disks 0 (Z, the

graphite rods 0, inserted in the blocks, the

metallic rod D, the switch-arm h, carrying the contact-spring 1 thespindle g, the miterwheels j k, the spindle Z, and the thumb-piece m,substantially as specified.

CHARLES H. BALSLEY, JR. EDWIN M. PORTER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT GALLowAY, CHAS. LONG.

